Staff Reports
Have you noticed a puzzling trend while booking a hotel stay lately? It seems that some hotels have decided to wave goodbye to traditional bathroom doors. Instead of a solid barrier that provides notorious privacy, guests are now met with a colorful array of curtains, partial walls, and even fancy sliding barn doors. But don’t be fooled; this design choice has ruffled more than a few feathers among travelers who value their solitude in the restroom.
The uproar began when one guest traveling in London found herself sharing a hotel room’s open bathroom design with her father. Imagine the embarrassment! This shocking discovery prompted her to kickstart a movement called “Bring Back Doors.” It turns out she’s not alone in her discomfort. The campaign has now grown to include a whopping 500 hotels that are forgoing the trusty bathroom door. Talk about taking the plunge into a whole new level of social interaction, where even the sounds and smells of private business can be put on public display!
So what could possibly motivate hotels to saunter away from their traditional designs? One relatively sensible reason is budget. Building materials like concrete and wood can really take a toll on finances. Add door handles that might jam or break to the list, and hotels can start to see why their wallets might prefer the low-maintenance approach. Then there’s the energy factor; if rooms are opened up to let in natural light, guests may feel less inclined to flick on those pesky lights, thus trimming energy costs. It makes some sense—but at what cost to privacy?
Another factor in this unhinged bathroom revolution is the evolving aesthetic of hotel design. As hotel rooms continue to shrink, some design gurus believe that creating an open concept gives an illusion of space. In fact, in some hotels, sinks and showers have boldly made their way into the main sleeping area, turning a once-personal experience into a bizarre display of domestic life. While this look might be chic to some, many travelers are left wishing for the comfort of a solid door between them and their bathroom activities.
Particularly for travelers in long-term relationships, this trend raises some eyebrows. One traveler put it perfectly, explaining how, after 25 wonderful years of marriage, she cherishes her husband but certainly does not want to witness him tending to his business in the restroom. It turns out that privacy is still prized, even in the era of open-concept everything. Whether this trend will continue to gain traction remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—a call for doors has begun, and the Great Bathroom Debate is far from over!
